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(N0 Model.) J H 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. CABLE GRIP. No 312,507. Patented Feb. 17, 1 885.

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N PETERS. Pllalo-Lilhogmpllcr. Washington. D. C

(No Model.) J PCLHEMUISI 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

CABLE GRIP.

Patented Feb. 17, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT truce.

JAMES H. POLHEMUS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CABLE-GRIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,507, dated February 17, 1885.

Application filed NovemberiS, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- ners by angle-irons a, and strengthened by Be it known that 1, JAMES H. POLHEMUS, transverse T-iron bands a, which surround a citizen of the United Statesand a resident of the said box. The box is open along the mid- Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State dle, and the T-irons a are bent upward or 55 of New York, have invented certain new and inward on the under side to form an arch in useful Improvements inOable-Grips, of which shape of an inverted U, as shown in Figs. 4. the following is a specification. and 5, to allow of lifting and introducing the My invention relates to means-for attachcable between the grip-wheels. The frame A ing and detaching railway-cars to and from an is further provided with suitable openings and 6o endless cable, when such is used for propelholes, a o to allow of mounting the gripling the car. wheelsin their bearings, and to gain access to The object of the invention is to provide a insert and remove the screws which hold the cable-grip of animproved construction,wheregrip-wheel bearingplates to the slide-frames. by the cable may be taken hold of at any point B are the grip-wheels. These are arranged 6 5 1 c of the track and raised and then entered be in sets of two or more, preferably five, at each tween the grip-wheels, and when so gripped of two opposite sides of the cable, which sets the lifter is swung laterally out of range of are mounted in vertical bearings b in a slidthe cable andpulleys, so as to prevent acciing frame, 0. These sliding frames extend dent by getting between the cable and the reabout the whole length of the main frame or 70 turn pulleys at the ends of the track; also,to afbox A, and are fitted to slide between the top ford a firm grip ,not liable to slip,andyettightand bottom plates of the frame A, the conening gradually, and a cheap construction of tact surfaces being formed by means of r0llgrip'wheels calculated, better than those now ers o to, reduce friction. The bearings b for in use, to withstand wear. the shaft 1) of the wheels 13 are bolted to an- '75 2 5 The invention will be hereinafter fully degle-plates c, fastened to the top and bottom scribed, and specifically pointed out in the plates of the slide-frame O, which latter, like claims, reference being had to the accompathe frame A, is made of iron plates joinedat nying two sheets of drawings, in whichthe corners by angle-irons.

Figure 1 represents a top or plan view of In order. to allow of the insertion and re- So my improved cable raising and gripping de-. moval of each grip-wheel B, the angle-iron a, vice. Fig. 2 is a detail edge view of the opwhich holds its upper bearing, is secured to crating rack-bar. Fig. 3 is a partial detail a separate removable plate, D, which is s'eview of the under side of the rack-bar, showcurable by bolts or screws to a strip of iron, ing the manner of attaching to it. the braked, riveted to the edge of the permanent part of 8 5 bands. Fig. 4. is an end elevation, seeninthe the top plate of the slide-frame O, in the usual direction of arrow 1 from the section-line y 3 manner of breaking joints (or making of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken 'o'ints) when joining iron plates edge to edge on the line m w of Fig. 1, the wheels J Bbeing to gettheir main surfaces flush with each left whole, and seen in the direction of arrow other. 0 4o 2. Fig. 6 is an edge or face view of one of the To allow of sliding the frame 0, it is progrip-wheels. Fig. 7 is a section of the same vided opposite the shaft 12 of each wheel ]3 taken on the line 2 z of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is adewith a short rod, E, which is secured to the tail view, seen in the direction of arrow 1, eX- side wall of the box-frame O, and projects i planatory of how the lifter when released is through a hole in the opposite side wall of the thrown out of the way of the cable. main frame A. The said rod is threaded on Like letters of reference indicate like parts its outer end, and a bored and threaded block, in the several figures. I I 0, having opposite pins, 6, is screwed upon the A is the main frame or casing, in and to threaded end to adjust the length of the actwhich the gripping machinery is arranged and ing part of the rod-that is, the distance from 100 attached. This frame is made in the shape of the slide-frame Oto the center of the pins ea low flat box of sheetiron, joined at the corand is secured in the adjusted position by a jam-nut, 6 at one or both sides of the block 6. The pins 6 of the block ework in the slotted jaw of a forked arm, F, which is secured on a vertical shaft, f, mounted in bearings f upon the side wall of the frame A.

Upon the upper end of the shaft f is secured, at about right angles to the arm f, the outer end of another arm, G, whose inner end is slotted and embraces a suitable pin or bolt, 9, secured to project from the upper side of a bar, H, which latter is'arranged along and centrally above the frame A, and has racks h, at either end, by which and a pinion, h, (upon a vertical shaft operated by a hand-wheel on the platform of the car,) the bar H is movable back and forth to apply or release the grip, as the case may be. It will be seen that by this construction the arms G F and rockshaft f form together an elbow-lever, which, when the bar H is moved in the direction of arrow 1, will cause the frame 0 to approach simultaneously and grasp with their Wheels B the cable from opposite sides. The gripwheels B are arranged in a sort of zigzag juxtaposition, as shown in Fig. 1--that is to say, in such position that a straight line connecting the centers of two nearest adjacent wheels at opposite sides of the cable willintersect the center line of the cable at oblique angles. It will be seen that by this arrangement the wheels B, in tightening the grip, will have a tendency to bend the cable in aseries of short bends in opposite directions, and thus insure a much firmer grip upon it than if the cable tangented said wheels in the aforesaid line uniting their centers. The end of each gripwheel shaft 6 projects outside of the frame A, and is provided with a band-wheel, J. This is surrounded with a brake-band, K, one end of which is fastened to a stud, 15, secured to the frame A, and the other end is fastened to a stud, k, on the under side of the bar H, in such position that when the bar H is moved in the direction of arrow 1 to tighten the grip on the cable the brake-bands K will be pulled proportionally tighter on the wheels J, to prevent the grip-wheels from turning.

In order to take up the wear of the bands, the connection between each band K and its stud 7c is made by forging upon the end of the band a rod, j, which is passed through an eye in the stud, and provided on its outer threaded end with a nut, L, a spiral spring, Z, surrounding the rod j, being interposed between the stud and the nut, as shown inFig. 3.

Upon each end wall of the frame A is fastened a plate, M, carrying upon a horizontal stud a roller, m, in position, as in Fig. 4, to act as a stop against the raising of the cable higher than just opposite to the faces of the grip-wheels B.

Having described the machinery by which the grip on the cable is obtained, I will now explain the device for bringing the cable between the grip-wheels.

N and O are shafts mounted in bearings N 0 upon the frame A, and extending from one platform of the car to the other, being provided at the ends with bevel-wheels n 0, which gear with other bevel-wheels, 17/0, on vertical shafts, turnable by means of hand-wheels upon the platforms in the ordinary manner-of carbrakes. The vertical platform-shafts-necessarily those of the pinions h and bevel-wheels nare provided with the usual ratchet, acted on by a foot-pawl on the platform, said pawls, ratchets, and car-platform being old and well known, and therefore omitted in the drawings to better show my invention.

At each end wall of the frameAis a cogsegment, P, centered to turn easily upon the shaft N, and having in its chordp an upright groove or way, in which a tooth-bar or rack, R, is fitted to slide up'aud down, being moved by a pinion, g, which meshes in the rack and is keyed on the shaft N. The segment is turnable on the shaft N by means of a pinion, Q, which meshes with it, and is keyed on the shaft 0. A roller, r, tapering from both of its ends toward its middle, is mounted to turn on a stud secured to the lower end of the rack R. A spring, S, secured upon the frame A, presses with its free end upon a pin, 8, attached to the segment P, so as to always (when the pawl is off the ratchet on the shaft of the bevel-wheel 0) keep the roller 1' out of range of the cable I, or in the normal position, as in Fig. 8, whether the cable be in or out of the rip.

g Referring to Fig. 8, when it is desired to raise and attach the cable, the shaft 0 and pinion Q are revolved, by the proper hand wheel on the car-platform, sufficiently to turn the segment P so that the roller 1" will move to the right'into apositiou directly underneath the cable I. By the respective hand-wheel on the platform the shaft N and pinion q are then revolved to raise the rack R and lift the cable I, by means of the rollerr, until it reaches the upper stationary roller, m. The rack is retained in the raised position until the grip applied has got a firm hold upon the cable, after which the foot-pawls on the platforms (by which the pinions Q q are kept from turning)'are released, when the springs S swing the rack R and roller 1" into the normal position out of range of the cable,withoutrendering it necessary to turn the pinion Q by hand to effect that result. The rack R is of course lowered as well as raised by the pinion q.

To increase durability of the grip-wheels over those now in use and cheapen and facili t-ate their removal when too much worn, I

construct them, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, of

two cast-iron disks, T U, bolted together and to sectoral blocks V, of hard rubber or hard wood, interposed between them. The blocks are made in the shape of circle-sectors, as just stated, about eight, more or less, in number, and butt with their inner ends against the circumference of a hub, a, cast upon one of the disks or plates U. The said disk U has also cast upon it retaining stops or projections a, which are arranged in the dividing-lines between each two adjoining sectors, and coincide with notches in both of the said adjoining sectors, as shown in Fig. 7, to keep them in place.

T is simply a plain disk, which, after arranging the blocksV in position upon the disk U, is placed upon them and the hub u, all being then secured together by bolts o, one for each block V, passing through the two disks U T and the blocks V simultaneously. This construction allows of easily replacing any one of the sectors V, when too much worn, with out disturbing the others. The same construction is evidently also well adapted for the ordinary wheels or pulleys, which support the cable.

Having thusdescribed my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a eablegripping device, the combination of the box-frame A, having longitudinally an opening for the cable, with the frames 0, having grip-Wheels B, and movable within the frame A simultaneously against opposite sides of the cable, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the box-frame A and cable I, ofthe frames 0, having gripwheels 13 and movable in the frame A simultaneously from opposite sides,to impinge,with the said grip-wheels, upon the cable at obliquely opposite points, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with a main frame, A, and cable I, of frames 0, having grip-wheels B, and brakes J Kupon the grip-wheel shafts and movable in the frame A simultaneously against opposite sides of the cable, the said brakes being also applied simultaneously with the said movement, substantially as specified.

4. In combination with the main frame A and cable I, the slide-frames 0, having gripwheels B, and brakesJ K upon the grip-wheel shafts, the longitudinally-movable bar H, and

the elbow-leversGF, connected at one end to the frames 0 and at the other end to the bar H, the brake-bands K being fastened with one end to the stationary frame A and with the other end to the movable bar H, for the purpose of simultaneously gripping the cable and preventing the grip-wheels from turning, substantially as specified. V

5. The combination, with the cable I and grip-wheels B, of the oscillatory sliding rack or bar R, provided with stud or roller 1', for attaching and introducing the cable between the said wheels, substantially as specified.

6. The combination, with the grip-wheels B, cable I, and sliding rack R, carrying the roller r, of the stationary roller m, to gage the elevation of the cable, substantially as specified.

7. In combination with the oscillatory sliding rack R, for raising the cable to the gripwheels, the spring S, tending to swing the rack out of range of the cable, for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of the shafts NO, having pinions q Q secured upon them, respect ively, the segment P, movable upon the shaft N, in gear with the pinion Q, and having guides or ways in its chord p, the rack R, having stud or roller 1', and fitted to slide in the said guides in gear with the pinion q, the gripwheels B, and cable I, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination of the shafts N O, having pinions g Q secured upon them, respectively, the segment P, movable upon the shaft N in gear with the pinion Q, and having guides or ways in its chord p, and a pin or shoulder, s, the spring S, secured to the frame A and pressing with its free end upon the said pin or shoulder, the rack R, having stud or roller- 0-, and fitted to slide in the said guides in gear with the pinion q, the grip-wheels B, and cable I, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In combination with the frame A, sliding frame 0, grip-wheel B, having brake-wheel J, lever G F, and slide-bar H, the band K, secured with its ends to the frame A and bar H, respectively, one end of the band projecting through an eye in the fastening-stud, and

having a nut or stop-shoulder, L, and a spiral spring, Z, interposed between the said stud and shoulder to take up the wear of the band, substantially as specified.

- 11. The cable or grip-wheels B, consisting of the disk T, the disk U, having hub u and projections u, the notched sectoral blocks V, fitted, as shown, to the said hub and projections and interposed between the said disks, and the bolts 12, passing through the said disks and interposed blocks simultaneously, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in pres ence of two witnesses, this 5th day of November, 1884.

- J AMES H. POLHEM US.

WVitnesses:

A. W. ALMQVIST, G. V. HELJEsTRAND. 

